NRI Insights

Buying back home, explained properly

Plain-English guides for Indians living in the UAE who are thinking about property in India. No jargon, no sales pitch — just the steps, the paperwork and the questions worth asking before you pay anyone anything.

4 guides · Updated September 2026

Why we publish this

Written for the questions people ask us at the show

Across 11 editions, the same questions come up at almost every stand. These guides are those conversations, written down.

Steps, in order

Each guide follows the real sequence of a purchase, so you can see where you are and what comes next instead of piecing it together from a dozen sources.

No hidden sales pitch

We do not sell property and we do not take a commission on one. The articles name the checks that protect you, including the ones that lose a developer a sale.

Honest about limits

Tax rates and rules change. Where a number moves, we say so and tell you to confirm it with an advisor rather than presenting it as settled fact.

Quick answers

The four questions we get most

Short answers to the things UAE buyers ask before they read anything longer.

Can NRIs living in Dubai buy property in India?

Yes. NRIs and OCI cardholders can buy residential and commercial property in India without prior RBI approval. The main restriction is on agricultural land, plantations and farmhouses, which require special permission. Purchases are made through NRE, NRO or FCNR accounts, and banking partners at the show explain the process in person.

Can I get an Indian home loan while living in the UAE?

Yes. Indian banks and housing finance companies offer NRI home loans of up to 75-80% of the property value, repayable from your NRE or NRO account. Lending partners exhibit at the show and can give indicative eligibility, interest rates and documentation requirements on the spot.

How do I repatriate rental income or sale proceeds back to Dubai?

Rental income credited to an NRO account can be repatriated after tax, and sale proceeds for up to two residential properties can be remitted, subject to an annual USD 1 million limit per financial year under RBI rules with Form 15CA/15CB certification. Tax and legal advisors at the show walk through the paperwork.

Do I need to travel to India to complete the purchase?

Not necessarily. Most NRI purchases are completed remotely using a registered Power of Attorney, with digital documentation and virtual site visits. Developers at the show set out the exact steps for their projects and the timelines involved.

Still have a question? Book a 30-minute call with the team or contact our Dubai office.

Next edition

Reading only gets you so far

Every question in these guides has a follow-up that depends on your situation. At the show you can put those follow-ups to the developer building the project, the bank that would lend you the money, and an advisor who handles NRI filings — in one afternoon, without booking a flight.

31 October – 1 November 2026Hyatt Regency Bur Dubai, UAE
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